December2010

Having just returned from a 10-day vacation, and in lieu of travel exhaustion, I have yet to penetrate the inner sanctum that is Christmas Preparations. I'm not quite sure I should use that word, sanctum, since it means private place, free of interference or interruptions. If you've ever partook in Christmas preparations you know full well that there is no where to find privacy, and interference (meddling mother-in-law) or interruption (kids or husband, you choose) is the norm. Then again I know many who, during the holidays, find solace in decorating their home, baking or preparing meals, and spending time with family. Those are the people, who in November, ask if it is too early to put up the Christmas tree. My answer to them, "Wait until December 1st." Then again, who can blame them? Once you get past the cramped stores, the long lines, the Christmas list (on which there is only one item, and that item was sold-out months ago), the chaos of travel an the 1,633,210 parties you have to attend, the holidays really are a joy. No, but seriously. All joking aside. The holidays are a wonderful time, when done right.

It isn't a secret that we Americans tend to like the biggest and the best of everything; and it doesn't help that society and consumerism in general pushes us to want to be and have better than the next guy. But it seems, at least to me, that when we try to out-do the next guy we end up getting stressed and overwhelmed and the meaning of Christmas goes out the window. Take a page from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
'That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always been about. Gifts, gifts...gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts. You wanna know what happens to your gifts? They all come to me. In your garbage. You see what I'm saying? In your garbage. I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump. And the avarice... The avarice never ends! "I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue." Look, I don't wanna make waves, but this whole Christmas season is stupid, stupid, stupid!'
The Grinch has a point. When Christmas becomes more about the presents under the tree, or even about the decorations and parties, and less about God, spending time with family, and giving to other the true meaning of Christmas is lost.

Since our children are still young, it is the perfect time to change the way our families look at the Christmas season. Teach your children, and remind yourself, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." ACTS 20:35 Instead of giving your children tons of presents under the tree, give them one or two and with the extra money take them to the store so they can buy presents for those without. In place of cooking a large meal for your family, take the non-perishables to a local food pantry or volunteer to serve food at a homeless shelter. And instead of making Santa Claus the center of Christmas, talk about Jesus' birth and the life of giving that he lived. It is our job as parents to teach our children to be great stewards of all that God has given us. Part of being a good steward is giving. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7